Design duo Formafantasma turns volcanic rock into furniture at the Salone del Mobile

Left: Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, the duo behind Formafantasma, and a photographic print of the volcanic rock they have used in their latest collection, 'De Natura Fossilium'. Right: The pair's 'Etna' coffee table
Left: Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, the duo behind Formafantasma, and a photographic print of the volcanic rock they have used in their latest collection, 'De Natura Fossilium'. Right: The pair's 'Etna' coffee table, made from lavic stone from two different geological eras, connected with brass pieces, produced in collaboration with Carl Auböck in Vienna.
(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)
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For centuries, the boiling red, volcanic ooze that has geysered out of Mount Etna and Stromboli has provided an excellent source for Sicilian stone cutters. Hardened into dark slabs known as basalt, this plentiful rock once commanded a high premium among Italian artisans, who used it to build much of the region’s Baroque architecture and sculptures. In recent years, however, basalt has been used to less transcendental ends and is now best known for the cheesy Sicilian souvenirs sold at the Catania airport.

Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, the Italian-born, Eindhoven-based design duo behind Studio Formafantasma, are set to change lava rock’s current status with an ambitious collection of new objects. Entitled ‘De Natura Fossilium’ (after Bauer), the pieces are currently being shown by Gallery Libby Sellers at Palazzo Cerici in Milan during the Salone del Mobile.

Working exclusively with lava-based materials extracted from both Mount Etna and Stromboli, the duo have spent the last two years investigating the possibilities of transforming the geological substance from the banal to the mind-blowing.

Their experimental tinkering with lavic stone has now resulted in an unusual 35-piece collection: from traditional slabs that have been cut and chiselled into sober tables or stools inlaid with brass; via melted stone whose carefully extracted fibres have been woven into lavic tapestries or unusual paper-thin ceramics; to melted stone that has been cast or mouth blown, for the first time ever, into geometric, lavic glass.

‘We were fascinated by the way these volcanoes are constantly expelling material,’ explains Farresin, who, together with the Sicilian-born Trimarchi, has spent the last few years studying these two active volcanoes in Europe. ‘In a way, it’s like a person mining. But in this case, it’s nature that’s mining.’

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Left: 'Hours' clock, comprising a brass clock hand spinning on a basalt plate filled with three types of lavic sand. Right: 'Filicudi' glass box.

Left: 'Hours' clock, comprising a brass clock hand spinning on a basalt plate filled with three types of lavic sand. Right: 'Filicudi' glass box. The handle is a lavic stone, while pieces of orange Murano glass are added for colour accents.

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

Working exclusively with lava-based materials extracted from both Mount Etna and Stromboli, the duo have spent the last two years studying these active volcanoes to create their unusual 35-piece collection

Working exclusively with lava-based materials extracted from both Mount Etna and Stromboli, the duo have spent the last two years studying these active volcanoes to create their unusual 35-piece collection. 

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

A photograph of a billowing Mount Etna from their field investigations earlier this year. 'We were fascinated by the way these volcanoes are constantly expelling material'

A photograph of a billowing Mount Etna from their field investigations earlier this year. 'We were fascinated by the way these volcanoes are constantly expelling material', explains Farresin. 'In a way, it's like person mining. But in this case, it's nature mining'

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

The designers scoured the volcanic landscape over the next few months, filling their sacks with various rocks and hauling the material

The designers scoured the volcanic landscape over the next few months, filling their sacks with various rocks and hauling the material back to their studio in the Netherlands, before melting the rock in a local metal workshop

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

'1991' and '1614' stools, made from occhio di pernice basalt, textile, and brass

'1991' and '1614' stools, made from occhio di pernice basalt, textile, and brass

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

The duo played with heating and cooling temperatures, adding water, extracting fibres, and grounding dried rock into a powder that was later blown into glass

The duo played with heating and cooling temperatures, adding water, extracting fibres, and grounding dried rock into a powder that was later blown into glass, by handblowers at the Berengo Studio in Murano

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

'Iddu' obsidian mirror, made from handblown lava rock and brass

'Iddu' obsidian mirror, made from handblown lava rock and brass

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

'Lipari' bowl, comprising occhio di pernice basalt, lava rock, brass and textiles

'Lipari' bowl, comprising occhio di pernice basalt, lava rock, brass and textiles

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

The collection has been further developed in collaboration with a number of European experts: from the CNC cutting of basalt in Sicily…

The collection has been further developed in collaboration with a number of European experts: from the CNC cutting of basalt in Sicily…

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

…to the scientific analysis of lavic stones at the Volcanologist Centre of Catania (INGV). Pictured is a microscopic view of lavic rock's geological strata

…to the scientific analysis of lavic stones at the Volcanologist Centre of Catania (INGV). Pictured is a microscopic view of lavic rock's geological strata

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

Formafantasma explored the tensile properties of lavic fibre with two different wall hangings, 'Atena' (left) and 'Efesto' (right)

Formafantasma explored the tensile properties of lavic fibre with two different wall hangings, 'Atena' (left) and 'Efesto' (right). The tapestries combine illustrative references to both the Greek mythological gods of Mount Etna and microscopic images captured by the INGV. 'It's been a really crazy process,' admits Farresin of their broad stretch of collaborators. 'It's kind of a geek project'

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

The collection is also accompanied by a photographic series by long-time collaborator Luisa Zanzani. Pictured is 'Etnea',

The collection is also accompanied by a photographic series by long-time collaborator Luisa Zanzani. Pictured is 'Etnea', 2013-2014

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

'Etnea', by Luisa Zanzani,

'Etnea', by Luisa Zanzani, 2013-2014

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

'Etnea', by Luisa Zanzani

'Etnea', by Luisa Zanzani, 2013-2014

(Image credit: Lonneke van der Palen)

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JJ Martin

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